Grijalva, Fontes Respond to Polling Confusion in Dallas County and Implications for Voting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, hundreds of voters in Dallas County were turned away from their usual polling places and directed to new precinct-specific locations after changes to the county’s election procedures disrupted expectations and created confusion for voters arriving to cast ballots. This shift from a more flexible voting model to strict precinct-assigned voting locations contributed to long lines, frustration, and barriers to participation for some residents trying to exercise their right to vote.    

These problems in Dallas echo debates happening in Arizona, where state legislators are advancing measures to eliminate countywide voting centers in favor of strict precinct voting. Proposed referrals in the Arizona Legislature (HCR2001/SCR1001) would bar counties from using voting centers and require election precincts with rigid size limits, significantly restricting where voters can cast in-person ballots and eliminating many of the flexible voting options that counties have used in recent years. Secretary Fontes has long argued that eliminating voting centers would create logistical challenges, increase requirements for tens of thousands of additional polling sites and workers, and make voting less accessible, especially for working voters and rural communities. The chaos caused by this change is Texas is proof that these fears are well founded.   

Vote centers currently allow eligible voters to cast ballots at any voting location in a county regardless of their assigned precinct, providing flexibility and access, particularly in densely populated or fast-growing areas. Arizona law already permits voting centers as one method of election day and early in-person voting. The Secretary of State's proposed “Voters First Act” would expand the vote-center model statewide and ensure voters are treated fairly, regardless of their zip code.    

“Policies that limit where and how people can vote—whether in Texas or Arizona—disenfranchise voters and create confusion at the polls,” said Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. “I saw the consequences of these policies firsthand yesterday in Texas, where voters were unsure about where they could cast their ballot. The proposal from extremist state lawmakers in Arizona would create the same problems here, especially for rural communities. As a Pima County Supervisor, I fought to make voting more accessible by transitioning to a countywide vote-center model. The result was higher participation and less confusion, which is exactly what a healthy democracy should strive for.”  

“As we’ve seen today in Dallas County, when voters are confused or turned away from the polls, it undermines confidence in the democratic process and makes it harder for everyday people to participate,” said Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “In 2026, the fact that we are still having to fight back voter suppression policies is deeply troubling and frankly, un-American. We should be utilizing every piece of available technology and funding to ensure that our voters and their participation are prioritized. I will continue to fight back against policy that seeks to drag us backward, burn through your tax dollars, and turn people away from the polls.”  

As election policy debates continue nationwide, this moment underscores the importance of systems that facilitate broad and equitable access to the ballot box for all voters while providing clear, consistent guidance to every eligible voter.